Baseops.Net

Lima, Peru - November 2006 update- There is a new AMC station manager at Jorge Chavez International, SPIM, Lima, Peru. Her name is Marcela Gaboda of Swissport. She is having problems getting good inbound information from AMC, so if you want good support from her please keep her in the loop. She can be contacted at: 011-511-517-3116 (office), 011-511-9831-9960 (cell) or email at: marcela.gaboda@swissport.com.pe Also, for transiting aircrews if you have any serious problems downtown, such as accidents, criminal issues, medical emergency, or even if you just need a safe cab late at night, call the Embassy's emergency center 'COSMOS' at 618-2935 (local Lima number). When going to lovely Lima, try out the Marriott Miraflores hotel. This is a very nice hotel, with free breakfast buffet. Govt. rate is $92 a night. This hotel is located in the "Miraflores" neighborhood, which is one of the best parts of Lima. Go across the street to the LarcoMar shopping center and check out the scenery.... Also: When flying approaches and ESPECIALLY IFR SID/STARs, FOLLOW the printed approach, do NOT let ATC clear you to a lower altitude while you are 200 miles out, they do this all the time, and you will get killed. I don't know why they do this, but follow the printed approach, SID/STAR, etc, until the wheels are chocked on the ramp. ~Rincon Gaucho Steakhouse (447-4778) is a Great Argentinian steakhouse in the Mira Flores area of Lima. It is a few blocks south of the Marriott in Mira Flores. The address is: Armendariz 58. ~The Sheraton is in "Old Lima" which translated means what a hole. However, the hotel itself is 5 stars. The rooms are huge and very very nice. They have a decent restaurant on the ground floor, next to a fairly nice casino-Black Jack, slots, but no craps. They offer free shuttles to Mira-Flores, the trendy "new" part of Lima. Despite the area it is well worth it to stay here if you can not get to Mira-Flores right off the bat.

Caracas, Venezuela - Easy place to RON. Full services coordinated with the AMC station mgr with absolutely no problems with fuel, flt plans, or ground transportation. About a 40 minute ride from from the airport to Caracas, more if there's traffic. Outstanding stay at the new (Dec 2000) Embassy Suites hotel (58-2) 266-76-77. Didn't have time to get out but there is a restaurant in the hotel (that stays open late,) as well as a very nice bar. Shopping center right across the street. Currently my #1 choice for RONs on the north coast of South America.

Maldonado, Uruguay - Conrad Resort and Casino in Punta del Este, phone: (598 42) 47 22 15 / (598 42) 49 13 61. This hotel was a palace! Maldonado, Uruguay (SULS) has a 6998' foot runway, and requires Jeppesen approaches to get in there. Once in there the terminal is brand new, and has most of the amenities expected in a US national terminal. For overnights, the place to stay is the resort town of Punta del Este... anout 20-25 minutes east of the airfield. It's a poular resort town for folks in Argentina and Uruguay. The Conrad Resort and Casino is the place to stay, with a round-the-clock casino (including tables) and amazing cocktail waitresses. The breakfast buffet goes until 1130 am, is free for guests, and is excellent. The views are fantastic (both people and scenery), and although costs for things are more here than in the capitol of Montevideo, the per diem jumps accordingly. We missed the Miss Universe contest by three days.... :( website for hotel is www.conrad.com.uy. Did I mention some of the most beautiful women ever?Montevideo, Uruguay - Sheraton was a nice resort. Uruguay is very European and lacks the typical flavor of a South American country. The Sheraton is the place to stay in Montevideo. Rooms are nice, the wine is super cheap, and breakfast is included. The hotel is connected to a mall providing plenty of good shopping and food. For a really good meal, try the "Purple House" restaurant. The food is excellent, and the waitresses are some of the hottest girls in the country.

Asuncion, Paraguay - Asuncion is your standard Latin American town filled with culture, crime, beautiful women, and good food (but don't drink the water). The airport, Silvio Pettrossi International (SGAS) is OK. The runway is beat up, but the support you get from the US Embassy contracted guy, Mr. Jose Melot @ Maytag Aircraft (wk # 595-21-646106), is good. Asuncion lies in a flat, swampy area of South America. We stayed at Hotel Sabe (595) 21-450 093, which is very nice, but in a rough part of town. It's about a 40 minute drive from the airport. The Embassy warns against walking out and about alone; walk in groups or take a taxi around town. The hotel staff will take good care of you and is very nice and helpful. EVERYTHING is Very CHEAP. The exchang rate is about 4000 Guarani to the US $1. A mixed drink was about $2, beer about $1. You can eat until you bust for around $10. We ate at the Paulistrio Grill(?).It was Outstanding. Call the Embassy USDAO for restaurant recommendations. The club action starts about 11:00 pm and goes until 6:00am (just like England or Iceland). A GREAT club on Friday/Saturday was The Mouse Cantina on Brazil St. Taxi ride from Hotel Sabe to there (15 Km) was $3 for 4 people!! A good bar during the week is La Barra, 2 blocks up from the Mouse on Brazil St. You can buy Leather and Lace products fairly cheap in Asuncion. One warning, don't drink the herbal tea mixture that you see everyone drinking out of a leather cup with the silver straw. You probably won't pass the piss test when you RTB!! They say they drink it to stay hydrated and energized in the heat of summer. Yea, right!! Overall, a good place to be, especially over the weekend. Enjoy!

Georgetown, Guyana - Le Meridian Pegasus was decent. It takes 45 minutes to an hour to get from Cheddi Jagan International Airport (SYCJ) to Le Meridian Hotel. The ride is $35-$40. It has 3 restaurants (one of which is 24 hours)and a bar. There is no ATM available in the hotel and from what the hotel staff says, there is not an ATM anywhere in the vicinity, so plan accordingly. The hotel address is: P.O. Box 101147 Georgetown, Guyana. E-mail is guy.pegasus@solutions2000.net The phone and fax numbers are: 592-225-2856 and 592-225-3703. At the airport you will be charged a filing fee/aerodrome services fee. It ranges from $80-$100 U.S. dollars according to aircraft weight and is payable in cash only (no SF-44's). We paid $80 for our KC-130. Again, plan accordingly.

Guayaquil, Ecuador - The wonderful AMC station chief here should hook you up at the Hilton. Fantastic hotel! Make reservations early! This place has splendid rooms, incredible service, gourmet buffet/restaurant, and even a casino in the bottom floor! The AMC fellow will file your flight plans for you, etc. ~The Hilton was excellent! From the cool mint oil and water towels that greeted us at check-in (for the heat) to the pool bar and casino. Caution: The Ecuadoran Mil ramp is suitable for ONE (and only one) KC-135. They have no uke and will park you tight. No matter what NIMA has published use caution. The DOD and Jepp diagrams don't accurately depict the ramp either. ~October 2001 Heads Up: AMC Station Chief is putting up crews to the Oro Verde in downtown Guayaquil NEXT DOOR to the US Consulate. Bad neighborhood and absolutely no comparison to Hilton. Breakfast buffet is included & good but not enough to compensate for faded glory of this formerly upscale hotel. They will set you up at the Hilton ONLY if you call & demand it before arrival. Be careful of any "special deals" that Ricardo suggests.... ~"I would like to set the record straight. We are currently using the Hotel Oro Verde, a five star property, located across the street from the US Consulate General's building. There are three streets closed to vehicle traffic due to security for the US Consulate. We are at war and it is only honest and loyal to keep our crews as safe as possible. These closed streets surround the Consulate and the Hotel. I do not offer sleazy deals to anyone. I have been your station manager for almost five years now and have never ever received any complaints about anything (four thousand crew members cannot be wrong) ,but, I have received dozens of commendations from all of you. If I have made a mistake please forgive me, it was not intentional. I am here to help you as I always have, and I am going to have a meeting with this hotel's CEO and make sure you are treated in the best way possible and always let me know if you did not like something. Your loyal friend,Ricardo Suarez SEGU-Station Manager." Your Station Managers in Guayaquil, Ecuador are Alex and Ricardo Suarez. Our phone numbers are: Office:5934-228-2538; Fax: 5934-228-2553; Alex Cell: 5939-942-1230; Rick's Cell:5939-942-1229 Our email is: ricardosuarezm@yahoo.com We are on call 24 hours a day. Our office is located inside the Ecuadorian Air Force Base where you will park your aircraft. Please feel free to contact us at anytime and for anything that you may require. Have a safe and wonderful trip here. God Bless all of you and your families and God Bless America. Ricardo Suarez Station Manager. ~Hotel Oro Verde was nice. Stayed there a couple of years ago. I thought it was a great hotel. Service was prompt. Took cab to Parillo de Nato (?) for some serious steaks. Cost about $10 each for cab,great steaks and beer. Enough security in/around hotel. ~We RON'd in Guayaquil on our way to and from Chile in August, and the service we received from Mr. Alex Suarez was truly awesome. Even though we arrived late, he was there waiting for us, took care of our transportation to the hotel, and got the immigration stuff taken care of in a fashion better than any U.S. base could do it. The Hotel Oro Verde was very nice, and the complimentary breakfast buffet was one of the best I've ever seen. The hotel even has a good deli and bakery where you can box up an inflight meal or two. There's also complimentary internet access in the business center to check email, look up weather, etc. While the area around the hotel is not the best, the security is very good and it is located right in front of the US consulate if you need any help. Manta, Ecuador - Billeting is on the Forward Operating Location, with overflow when needed at the Oro Verde or Howard Johnson Hotel through the Air Force detachment at the FOL. The FOL has a Dining Facility serving 4 hot meals a day and box lunches. The Fitness Center, with free weights, nautilus equipment and aerobic equipment is available 24/7. Ecuador uses the USD mixed in with Sucre for under $1. Bring bills under $20s. Food on the local economy is relatively inexpensive, grilled swordfish dinner for $5 USD. Transportation to the near by villages can also be arranged by the AF detachment. Plan your mission, read the detailed Manta In-Flight Guide prepared by our AMC station chief. SEMT now has LOX available to all aircraft. DynCorp Int.-LLC operates and supports the BOS contract here at SEMT. Manta FOL Web page: https://wwwmil.dm.af.mil/manta/ ~Eloy Alfaro (Ecuador AFB) - On base was a dump! Nice Gym......Chow Hall is average but they make you a mean BLT. You can take a taxi downtown.. to party.... dont pay more than $3 anywhere in the city from base...they 'll try $5...s ay NO...$3. $2 DVD's at the SuperMax... Mart ask for the "Chinaman" I bought like 20....all good and they play in my home player. Caddilacs...a good american bar...(closed 2007) the best hot wings i\ve had in my life. Food here is hit and miss....DONT ...DONT go to the sushi bar we got food poisoning. A good italian restauraunt..... Oro Verede Hotel is expensive. Not much to do unless you like the beach.... 30min south of town awesome body surfing...$1 Clausen Beers and shrimo platters for $4. Update as of 5 April 08 - FOL is now run by ITT and they do a pretty good job. The clubs to go to are Picasso's and five's. The DVD's are a buck at teh china man across from the super-maxi. Places to eat are Rosario's (7 bucks for 2 filets), Las Velas and number 11 on the boardwalk (good cuban food), and Good Fellas (American owned pizza place). Use Jimmy's cab company, they are great and will help keep you out of trouble. To go to the beach or fishing you have to have an MWR request signed by the FOL commander and SFs. Fishing trip can be hit or miss. We caught 17 big fish when we went, but heard of others catching nothing. The boat is ONLY 25ft long and has 1 engine and is pretty cramped with everyone on board. T-12 is the hangout spot and if everyone is cool it can be a great time. We mixed well while we were there. Its an honor bar system and the beers (Brahma and Pilsner and Pilsner light) are $1. The beers are ok, but if you add a lime they aren't really that bad. You can get plenty of Rum from Jimmy or at the Super Maxi for cheap. There are 2 casinos in town one at the Oro Verde and the other is at the HoJo. Both are ok, but there is obviously no real gaming laws, so take that for what its worth. If you go in the rainy season take GALLONS of bug spray! If you want to help the locals they are looking for baby cloths and womens clothing, it is really expensive to get it there and they will trade everything for them. If you want gifts for people, in MonteCristi (which is a 25 dollar cab ride and they wait there for you) they make Panama hats, supposedly the best in the world. They range from 10 to 25 dollars and make sure you ask for the box. Also there are guys in town that will find you that make airplanes and other things from a local tagua nut that feels like ivory. They are nice guys, if you have baby cloths they will take that in trade. Most of all have fun, its not a bad TDY. Quito, Ecuador - This Marriott is the nicest hotel I have stayed in. Incredible architecture, very modern plush rooms and friendly (attractive :-) ) staff. Govt rate is $80 a night, but add about $10 or so in room tax. Be warned, they charge by the minute for local calls ...about $.10 a minute. The Mil group there is not supposed to set you up, but if they aren't busy they will. Breakfast buffet is included in the room. The brunch, for $12 is incredible! All sorts of chicken and smoked salmon, complete with a flamenco band. Beers aren't too expensive and they have Cubans and Ecquadorian cigars downstairs. The restaraunt even made us box lunches for our trip home for $6 a piece. If you need anything - ask! Good laundry service too. The town is at 9500' so take aspirin. Hotel water is fine, and they have bottled water available. Good restaraunts - Shortens Grill and Zocalo. Shortens ran $20 for 2 huge beers, a steak and dessert, with tip. Zocatos wasn't AS good, but ran $7. The large "P!ilsner" beers at $1. Cab rides - $1. Head down to the market and get some gifts - handmade by the locals. They tell you to stay away from some bars there....and you will notice guards with bullet proof vests as bouncers....but we had no trouble. Ernesto the AMC rep at the airport is great!!!! ~Swisshotel is a palace! (593-2)567-600 FAX=567-080 Ernesto, AMC airport agent, will make arrangements for this really wonderful hotel. Complimentary, hot, gluhwine while checking in to very comfortable rooms. Hotel is next door to Radisson & one street over from Quito's restaurant row. One of the finest hotels we've visited in S.America. Inclusive breakfast & excellent bar are serious positives. Better atmosphere than the new Marriott. ~Some minor notes to add on gouge for Quito: Columbus Parilladas (Grill) has an excellent selection of steaks and other entrees for cheap. This chain can be found throughout Quito and was only a $1.50 cab ride from the Swissotel. Pim's pub (Av Isabel La Catolica No 915 y Luis Cordero Tel#2221827) is a block from the Swissotel/Raddison--good atmosphere/pub food. La Mariscal district ($2 cab ride from Swissotel) puts you in the heart of Quito's bar/restaurant district--plenty of options there. If you'd like to play blackjack with $1 minimums head to the Swiss Chalet casino in La Mariscal district. ~Best Western Plaza, PH: (593-2) 244 5305, FAX (593-2) 225 1958 was a great hotel. Hassan Becdach is the AMC rep at Quito (Cell (593-9)973 3626). Had many problems getting IFM package from TACC. Hotel is really nice - casino, restaurant, bar, shops. The hotel is right across the street from the Quito Mall ( a large indoor mall - lots of shops).

Bogota, Columbia - Special note for TDY crews--If Raven equipped, they are not needed during daylight hours if parked on military ramp. Military ramp has no lighting. Use discretion. Casa Dan Carlton is a very nice hotel, spacious rooms include small living area. Buffet breakfast included with room rate. Has indoor pool and gym. 15 min to Milgp and Airport. Five (5) minutes by taxi from Parque 95 which has excellent restaurants. Phone Number: 633 88 10. ~Hotel Pavilion Suites was okay. Rooms were small. However, the staff was great. Took care of all needs. Lots of restaurants close (21 total). Rooms were nicely furnished. Big soft pillows. ~Hotel Bogota Royal (57-1-6341777/51-1-2183261) was a nice resort. Great Sports Bar in hotel. Hotel is inside the Columbian World Trade Center--very safe. They will do your laundry for small fee. Do not use local taxis. Use the ones contracted by hotel, all hotel chains owned by same company. Nice gym for the gym rats. If you get a 1st/2nd floor room, make sure balconies are locked. ATM located in lobby--can get pesos, also bank located beside hotel for best peso conversion rate. ~Casa Dann Carlton (Tel:633877 Fax:6338810) was a great hotel. 24 Hour security around hotel. Pool and Bar on 8th floor. Comfortable rooms. Several small stores in lobby (if restricted to hotel due to local THREATCON or if Fast Eddy is having a temper tantrum). Bar and restaurant (Restaurante Trattoria) has free breakfast. Dinner was great. Try the fondue (warning, may get flash burns if the fondue pot compressor stalls). Hotel guide boasts of "bullet proof" hotel doors-hmmm??? Any questions, ask the MILGROUP (Colombian User POC) rep at the embassy. Fast Eddy seems to be having some reliability issues at this time (Dec 2002), however, coffee is still $45 USD a case. The Casa Dan Carlton is a nice hotel and is close to many things. Try going up the mountain to the La Calera area. Great views of the city. Try Casa Brava restaurant while there- great food, beer, atmosphere, and prices. In the Zona Rosa, try Bogata Beer Company - only serve beer, pizza, and hot dogs. Also try San Sebastian, the food was great and they had live entertainment that started around 10 pm. Again, to reemphasize- only take the cabs owned / contracted by the hotels, they will wait for you outside while you eat/enjoy the area (small fee for waiting, but worth it). ~Hotel La Fontana Estelar 571-274 78 68 / 571-614 74 34 is a 5-star hotel, great service, friendly staff, very nice rooms (living room separate from bedroom, separate kitchen), good area of Bogota, mall is walking distance from hotel, depending on time of day 30-45 minutes from airport/airfield. ~Radission Royal Bogota was a palace! Five Star + Next to mall. Breakfast included with room rate. Meets perdiem. Nice indoor pool and gym. Cartegena, Colombia - Sofitel Categena Santa Clara was awesome! Cabal's (same family that has Bogota AMC Contract) will set you up. Cartegena is a historic resort town, more like San Juan than Bogota. Sofitel hotel was $$$+$$, but what a palace! My room was large enough for the entire crew, had two floors, two bathrooms, etc, etc. The hotel was once a convent, and is like a city within the city. About a 10 minute drive from airport, provided by AMC. The Airport is currently under a lawsuit for noise complaints?...They will want to tow you off the ramp before starting engines, APU use only at a minimum. The irony is the neighborhood around the airport looks like a refugee camp. ~The Santa Clara tel (57)(5)6646070 fax (57)(5)6647010 is one of the nicest hotels I've stayed in. It was built in 1617 as a convent. The colonial architecture is beautiful. The hotel is located on Calle de Torno in the Barrio San Diego in the historic "old city" of Cartagena. There are 3 restaurants, a large pool, and a bar in the hotel. The Cava del Puro is a cigar shop relatively close by. They specialize in Cuban cigars. The address is Calle de Las Damas No. 3-106.

Santiago, Chile - Hotel Tarapaca is a great crew dog hotel. Decent, clean, next to pubs and restaurants. Not far from center of restaurant area. Rooms nice and clean. Security good. Simple, not as ostentatious as the Radisson nor as expensive. Continental breakfast in the AM included. ~Sueces Street is a great place and Hotel Neruda is a 2 block walk. Nice hotel with access to a local gym in the building with a great free breakfast. Don't try to bring any guests thru the front after hours... the manager won't allow it. Take them thru the parking garage and up the elevator. The New Yorker Sushi Restaurant is great. $20 per person for more sushi than you can handle and more wine than you can drink. Happy hour in Sueces is from 6p -1230. Hotel Inter-continental was a great hotel. We did an exercise in Santiago in Aug 03. AMC station manager in Santiago, Mr. Machuca, did an excellent job taking care of us. We operated out of Los Cerrillos AB, but it looks like this base is slated to close. The Inter-continental hotel was nice, although the rooms in the old tower are small (the new tower, facing the embassy, has much nicer rooms, ask for these if possible). The complimentary breakfast buffet is good. The hotel also has a good business center with internet access and an indoor heated pool and exercise facilities. The best thing about the hotel is its location, within 50 yds of the US embassy, easy walking distance to many excellent restaurants, and a short cab ride (about $5 US) to Avenida Suecia, the bar district. The hotel also has good security and a very friendly staff. An excellent restaurant near the hotel (walking distance) was "Happenings," awesome steaks and good wine, just ask the staff how to get there.

Cochabamaba, Bolivia - Portales Hotel takes top honors. Lavish and beautiful surroundings, gardens, and pool. Room very nice. Cable TV. A few blocks from some very good and inexpensive restaurants. La Paz, Bolivia - The Hotel Ritz recieves top honors. It offers free continental breakfast includes eggs, meats, pastries, cereals etc. Close to US Embassy for those who do not want to be to far from home. Rooms are suites with separate bathroom, living room and kitchen + wet bar.

Ascension Aux AF - The USAF contract billeting rooms we got were two rooms sharing a gang style shower/latrine. Clean and has satellite tv. Rooms are $5.00 a night and you pay at the dinning hall. The USAF has a fishing boat that is anchored at Georgetown. Use is free and a crew is provided, however, you need to bring all fishing supplies but the poles. Also, you will have to hitch hike over to Georgetown unless you have about 45-55 minutes to walk from the USAF settlement. People are very friendly and glad to give you a ride for the most part. There is a contractor run store by the dinning hall which is a BX Shopette type and there is a Royal Mail post office and mini grociery store in Georgetown (the anchorage). Nice place to visit for a short time. The food at the Volcano Club is better than at the Dinning hall, but they close at midnight.

Salta, Argentina - Hotel Portozuelo is excellent. The rooms are clean and the hotel sits at the base of a hill overlooking the entire city. Good exercise walking up. Bonus, on top of the hill, they hold outdoor aerobics classes. Good Latin-booty watching opportunity. The food everywhere is cheap. Go to any food stand and eat a "lomito." It's like an Argentinian Philly cheesesteak. Great places to eat are Viejo Jack's (for steaks that weigh more than you do) or Solar. Good wines from that region are Michel Torino or Vasija Secreta. Thursday night check out "Line Out', Friday go to "Zen", Saturday go to "Metropoli", and Sunday go to "Salon VIP."

Panama City, Panama - A fancy hotel right downtown is El Panama - it sports a FLOATING Bar in the pool , great rooms, fantastic service, and great scenery... Good bars are right around the block: Taboo's, My Place, and Bacchus. (They start hopping LATE and are open till the morn.) The Caesar Park is an excellent hotel for a one night stay: bar/casino, multiple restaurants. Not near town-- 10 minute cab ride downtown. Will be stuck in hotel, but it is an excellent stay. The Marriott is one block from the El Panama. (In my opinion) by far nicest hotel in the city, great sports bar and awesome hotel spa/gym all inside govt rate. This Marriott is only 1-2 years old. Previous marriott is now Ceasars park.

Managua, Nicaragua - Nicaragua is a dump, extremely depressing to see the state people are living in. However, The Intercontinental is a sweet stay. Be warned, avoid the strip bars. The Nicaraguans are budding capitalists, and a 30 min stay with a couple (or three) beers apiece for four crew dogs ended up being a 160$ bar bill! When we protested the rate, and tried to divide the bill among us, they recalculated and handed us four new bills whose total was higher than the first time. We threw what cash we had at them and started walking home until we talked a cabbie into taking us home for what change was left. Biggest mistake was following Army guys to a club, we should have stuck to the places the hotel recommended as western clubs. Food wasn't bad at the restaurant with the big tree in the courtyard next to the Icon, and there is a mall across the street as well. The local beer, Victoria, isn't bad either.

San Pedro Sula, Honduras - Intercontinental hotel was a palace! A great place that no one talks about. We had to divert here but for guys transiting this AOR frequently is a perfect place to divert to, airport name is La Mesa Int'l. There is a Honduran Air force base there, HAF were very supportive, we needed an engine change and a MRT to fix us and they worked out of their way to have USAF planes come in to the ramp and work on our tail. Their pilots go to UPT!! So they know your needs... AMC station manager available on Pax Terminal. Downtown San Pedro Sula hotel to go is the Intercontinental look for the US embassy rate through the station manager make sure they let you use the business center with the embassy rate. For food-entertainment go out to Applebee's or TGI Fridays. Across the street from Applebee's is a place called Mantras. Great place especially on weekends. Be careful late at night this is a high crime area so check your six especially when traveling on a cab late at night, use the buddy system!! Soto Cano AB, Honduras -We flew a C-5 into this garden spot. I don't recommend an RON. We were told we had to stay on base for security reasons. The crew hooches have no running water. They have a common area with cable TV. The 9 adjoining rooms have 1-3 pairs of bunk beds. There is a free shuttle into town--get your pass from base ops (your supposed to go through the local immigration on base first, but we didn't. The taxis are way cheap too. There are a couple decent places to go--one is a bar/restaurant owned by an American. It's named Hanneman's (spelling). All their drinks come from filtered water/ice. Talking with the local Americans who live there I learned it was safe to drink. They serve this wicked punch by the jug--it's loaded and tastes pretty good. The food was pretty good too. There's also an Argentenian restaurant that's supposed to be good--it's the first one you'll see on the right side of the street as you head in to town on the main highway. Now if you're going to be there awhile, the thing to do is rent a car and drive to Belize for fun (especially scuba/snorkeling)--don't forget this is the country where Temptation Island is located. ~RONed for two nights. Stayed on base in the hooches but they weren't too bad compared to what is in SWA. Chow hall on base is decent and there are several bars on base, most notably an Army bar called the Lizard Lounge which opens at 1900, stays open all night, and has dollar longnecks. Off base, ate at a great steak place called El Torito. It is at the first stop on the bus that runs into town. There's also an interesting old cathedral in the center of town if you're interested in the culture. Bring a flight lunch or buy something at the BX because the ones the chow hall makes are lousy. Update Dec 09Just spent a year at Soto Cano. Even if just there for a few hours ask to go to Ron's cigar shop on base. Best prices/selection on cigars and accessories. There are several restaurants on base if you have limited time. Febe John's is Mexican style and is my favorite. The breakfast burritos are phenomenal. If your there overnight, I recommend going off-base in order to 1. El Toritos (steak house) ($10-15 incl drinks), 2. Tuna y Coyote (Honduran) ($10-15 incl drinks), 3. Ricardo's (steak, seafood, Honduran) ($15-20) (located in historic town square, good atmosphere). If you don’t want to take the bus, taxis Are available at the front gate. Negotiate the price before you get in; 100lps ($5) is a fair price to town. Any of the guys at base ops can help you get there. On-base there are four bars. The Army Forces bar (The Rally Point) is typically the most inviting and has the most action (fwiw). Overall, SCAB is not a resort but you can have a lot of fun if you can get over the lodging issues. Tegucigalpa, Honduras - We stayed at the Inter-Continental (good place!), with billeting arranged by Ms. Acosta, the AMC Station Manager (USAF Major on-site, but you work with Ms Acosta). Great lady! The rooms cost $87, $97 if you get the breakfast included (it costs $10, but this way the gov't pays for it). Great stogies in the gift shop in the hotel, with the cheapest prices I've ever seen for Cubans (box of Montecristo #2s for $150!). There is a mall right across the street, with a TGI Friday's inside. Good food, runs you about $15-25, depending on how much beer you drink. Get the Imperial beer, best of the local brews. About a 20 min ride to/from hotel to base. File your flight plan the day prior, you'll get your squawk in the morning. ~If you want to go out, the better bars/clubs include Confetti's, Arena, Planeta Cipango, and Plaza Garibaldi's. If you want to taste some typical Honduran entrees, La Hacienda on Morazan Boulevard is very nice and inexpensive. The food was awesome, and nobody in the crew got sick from it!!! Cabs are very inexpensive, but make sure you agree on a price BEFORE getting in the cab. Hacienda restaurant is closed. Try "El Patio" for good, yet inexpensive Honduran chow. A great Chinese restaurant, a stone's throw from the Intercontinental Hotel, is "Mongolia." "Casa Mexicana", across the street from the Clarion Hotel, is another good place to eat. Hailing cabs on the street is risky since many of the drivers are in cahoots with thugs who will bust your head open you for your money. If robbed, don't resist; the crooks are all armed and will not hesitate to kill you. The US Embassy recommends a cab company called Radio Taxi. They are trustworthy and reliable and only operate via a dispatcher (225-5563).

Guatemala City, Guatemala - If you're lucky enough to be stuck for the night, a stay at the Westin Camino Real is nice! It was recommended by the Embassy military staff, who also provided us with a driver for pre-dinner shopping and trips to/from the airport. I was there 3 years ago, and the rate was $75--let the Embassy Staff book this for you! To give you an idea of the quality, one of our fellow guests was the Crown Prince from Japan. Several good restaurants are just a short stroll from the hotel, including the Hacienda Real. Guatemala is known for its excellent beef, so get a steak if you're in the mood. The streets seem relatively safe, but the abundance of armed soldiers, police, and militia (no doubt extra for the Prince) took me back at first. All-in-all a great trip! El Torro is almost adjacent to the Westin, they hooked us up with some awesome food at average prices. One of the best steaks I have ever eaten...go there! The Sheraton takes second place and hooks you up with a free breakfast buffet and 10-20% off drinks and the rooms are cheaper than the Westin, but location not as prime. Marriott was nice - good restaurant and sports bar; close to plenty of shops, bars, restaurants. All within 2 blocks. Just ask the front desk. Recommend going out in groups - plenty of guns in the streets! ~15Dec2002 new info: The Hotel Camino Real is no longer off limits. Prior Station Manager had restricted it. It is now being used by the US Embassy, US MILGRP and Aircrews here in Guatemala. The immigration exit fee for Guatemala is now US$30.00 or Q.230.00. MGGT updated contact info (Giant Report has wrong information): Embassy Switchboard 011-502-2331-1541 X 221/3 MGGT Military Ramp (GUA Air Force) 011-502-2332-2083/2003 AMC Station Manager: MR. Pablo Palacios MGGT Tower: 011-502-2331-6520 Office: 011-502-2332-3235/3254 Office fax: 011-502-2332-2844 Airfield: 011-502-2361-6722 Airfield fax: 011-502-2361-6722 Home: 011-502-2363-4999 Cell: 011-502-5401-6471 Great to see the Westin Camino Real off limits entry was corrected. We stayed at the Westin (DEC 02). About 10 minutes (excluding rush hour traffic) from the airport and is a nice hotel with a full spa, free full breakfast, great staff and very close to some very good restaurants (great food at a very good price!!! just watch the phone rates). The AMC manager or Embassy staff may be able to arrange trips (time permitting) that are well worth the time. Antigua is a great day trip with a lot of shopping.. To the C-130 crew who helped us, thanks!! Pablo, AMC Station Manager, does an outstanding job taking care of everything!!!

San Salvador Marriott Courtyard San Salvador (Esquina Calle 2 y calle 3, phone: 503-2-2493000) is probably the best place to stay. Safe (armed guards patrolling the grounds), nearby shopping and food (La Gran Via is right next door, the Walmart is just beyond that, and another mall just past it). Lots of US fast food nearby. Good free breakfast (local fare), and discrete taxi service to Comalapa if needed. Rooms are standard Marriott, always top standard. The Hotel Princess (503)298-4545 fax(503)298-4500 is a fantastic hotel with awesome service located in upscale "Zona Rosa". Great hotel bar - Churchill's. Nice pool, 24-hour room service or restaurant, spa on top floor with hot tub/ sauna/ dumb bells/ cybex machines/ and cheap massages! Lounge singer on Wed-Fri nights. About 45 minutes from San Sal Int. Airport. Transpo is coordinated with AMC station chief. Several good restaurants, bars, discos in the area. Also, supermarket right around the block. ATM nearby. Eat at Guadelahara rest./bar (food, drinks, dancing). ~ Though we didn't stay overnight, I was in San Sal in Feb 02, and would like to post the best/latest AMC Stn Mgr info, since our illustrious GIANT reports tend to be quite hit-or-miss in this region... AMC Stn Mgr is Mr Rafael Pena (assistant is Maria -- she's the one who met us, and was fantastic with her support and assistance!)... Work # is 503-262-4130, Home 503-339-9021, Fax 503-262-3727, Cell (Best!) 503-885-9315... email at avonca@navegante.com.sv . Great hotel near Zona Rosa. Cigars sold in the bar and also in a cigar shop attached to the hotel- they are a little pricey, but they were worth it! Local beer, Pilsener, is very good. Nice pool area. Top three floors are the concierge floor with comp food and drinks. Sheraton Princess was a great hotel. Rafael Pena was an outstanding handler at the airport; trust his advice on filing, and on local customs. A couple of updates: A very nice hotel. Very easy to eat at/under the per diem without leaving the hotel. T-Mobile works there for about $1.99 per minute. Comalapa Quality Hotel Real Aeropuerto El Salvador (503 2366 0000) is about your best choice in the area. Good security and nice rooms, bar and restaurant and a decent free breakfast. Nice pool with a hot tub, volleyball and basketball courts. Not much to do in the local area unless you hit the beach and go surfing, most travel to San Salvador (45 minutes if no accidents or delays) to go shopping or to hit the nightlife.

Belize City, Belize - Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina (P.O. Box321, Belize City , Belize Central America 501-2-33333) is decent and is in Belize City. Consensus of the local taxi drivers say that this is the nicest place in town. The Princess Resort and Casino is rumored to have rats. Booze and food in the hotel restaurant is good. There is a dive shop in the marina that will take you out to the second largest barrier reef in the world for about $90 US. Exchange rate is fixed at 2 Belize to one US.

Antigua, West Indies - Club Antigua is a Great Resort/Hotel... Last time I was there a couple of years ago and it was $95.00 a night. Free dinner buffet and FREE BAR! Small rooms with no phones or TV, but, its right on a great beach with its own cove. WARNING! Don't use the pay phone at the lobby cause you'll get charged ship-to-shore fees and it adds up real quick. Other than that, GREAT PLACE! Jolly Beach Resort (phone: 268-462-0061) was a nice resort. This all inclusive was nice. Rooms are a little dated and small, but the beach location is fantastic. We were greeted on arrival with cocktails, and the overall service was excellent (despite slow check in and check out). Food was average, but for free... so who cares. Pools were great as was the scenery. For dinner, if you choose the seafood restaurant, don't bother paying a surcharge for the surf and turf or other seafood specialties, as it wasn't fresh seafood, and you'd be better off saving your cash for seafood at home. There is a Sandals resort on the island, which I am sure is more modern and probably nicer, but we didn't get an option.

Piarco, Trinidad and Tobago - Crowne Plaza hotel is decent and in Port-Of-Spain, right next to the docks. Best place to eat is probably in the hotel. Beer is cheap. Breakfast isn't served until 0630 or 0700. There is a place to get sandwiches and doughnuts near the airport.

St. Lucia - Club Med is an all-inclusive (3 full meals, beer, wine, windsurfing, face-painting, nightly parties, fun activities for your loadmasters, Marco Polo, etc) beach resort 5 minutes from Hewanorra Int'l airport. The Hewanorra service contractor will drive you there. It's on the windward side of the island, but the nicer resorts on the leeward side are a 1.5-hour drive from TLPL. Hey, it's still Club Med. We got 12 rooms at a special $65 rate--the allowance is around $210. Call the hotel directly (search on the net) rather than the Club Med reservation number, and I'm sure you can get a decent rate.

St. Thomas, USVI- Marriott Frenchman's Reef Resort (340.776.8500 / FAX 340.715.6192) was a palace! Alliance Aviation is the current contract FBO at St Thomas. They offer excellent all-around support. WX and flight plan filing for outbound leg is available via 1-800-WXBRIEF [flight service]. We encountered no delays. Islander Taxi service (Delita Parsen 1-340-774-4077, FAX 1-340-776-1328) was used for transportation and provided excellent service. The Frenchman's Reef resort is about a 20 minute ride from the airport. All around, this is a fantastic resort. Per diem more than covered the somewhat pricey meal/drink tab. To book more than 9 rooms you'll need to go through the sales office (1-340-776-8500, ext 6403). However, with 9 or less rooms, booking rooms is simplified. The government rate the hotel offered was significantly below the maximum lodging rate paid by the Air Force.

St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands - This is a fantastic place to RON. Stay at King's Alley - right on the water, and just blocks from the bars and restaurants. The rum and tequila down here is phenomenal and VERY cheap. Danish Manor was dangerous... ~Be advised we had a crewmember mugged not far from this hotel. After getting back to home station heard another crew had two that got jumped by 6 guys. ~At Chenay Bay hotel, food was expensive but good. The rooms are great - first floor rooms are on the beach! You're across the street from the Casino but you're out of the way (east side of the island) They have a small "shoppette" store in the hotel and have laundry facilities & a shuttle to the downtown. Went on a day-long catamaran ride that included snorkeling & a lunch cookout - Big Beards is the company. Was broken for 4 days and Bohlke set us up! Had to change hotels 3 times (International Triathalon in town) but he set us up everytime with rooms within our lodging allowance (Chenay Bay was the best by far). He set up our MRT with everything they needed on the flightline (even pizza). He's the man on that Island for anything & he loves us coming through using his equipment & buying his gas. He has everything you need - even flight planning stuff. After you've been here, you'll understand what all the hoopla is about. This is one guy worth the investment of buying a few extra thousand pounds of gas from! Service was first rate. ~Divi Carina Resort was a very nice motel, with first floor rooms on the beach. The downside is that it's on the opposite side of the island from everything else. It's got a bar, restaurant, and casino across the street. Nice place if you want to get away from the city. Either way you work it, get Bohlke to work everything for you. We stay at the Tamarind Reef Hotel all the time; it's a great place to stay. They have a great bar called the Deep End by the pool with a great little grill for lunch and dinner. It's a very convenient hotel. All oceanfront rooms with super duper air conditioners. The rooms are standard style hotel rooms with a small kitchen. Cheeseburgers is a great restaurant, outside eating atmosphere with a band playing. For a fantastic meal eat at TuTu Bene, the owners are from New Orleans and any meal you get is outstanding. Bombay Restaurant is also another great place to eat. Stay away from The Case Place if you want seperate checks, we asked for it and the waitress cursed out the entire table. The food is great but the attitude of the staff over the check was a bit much. And of course Stixx pizza and Ft. Christian Brew Pub are always a good stop for eating and drinking. The Ft. Christian brew pub has a deal if you buy a steak you drink free beer all night long. They are really cool people. Another great hotel and resort is the Buccaneer Hotel. For great crew meals on your flight you have to stop by Schooner Bay and get a sandwich or plate lunches. Their sandwiches are outstanding!! ~As of Nov 03, Boehlke has lost the government FBO contract. The new FBO is Carribean Flight Center - nice folks - met the plane with coolers of beer, t-shirts, taxi, and gas truck. They can set up trans and hotels for you. Per previous writeups - take Danish Manor Hotel off your list - run down, sleazy hotel now in a "rough" neighborhood. Best Western also no good. Buccaneer was fantastic resort hotel - golf, tennis, beach, etc. - ten dollar cab ride to downtown. Lastly, the IFR sup shows limited hours for the airfield, but the tower/afld mgr say the field is open 7 am - 10 pm seven days a week. ~CFC Carribean Flight Center 340 778 0090, 513 1447 was a great FBO to use! They made our reservations, had a free taxi to and from any hotel we picked and worked with the resorts to get room rates for the cost of our per diem. Plus they have the only military contract for fuel. They offered to give us rides around the island, and suggested good places to go, and they even offered to put up a spread for our Breakfast. Their flight planning area is fair, but they are in the process of building a nice facility. The Divi Carina Resort is a nice resort on the water, with a coral reef across the laguna. They rent scuba gear, kayaks, and snorkel rentals for cheap. Also, they are across the street from the only Casino on the island. Divi Carina Bay 877-773-9700 was a nice resort. Week long mission flying in/out of St. Croix. Used FBO (Carribean Flight Center 340-778-0090). GREAT FBO...EXCELLENT STAFF !! Couldn't do enough to make our stay more enjoyable. What ever our flight schedule called for, they made sure they were open to handle our needs. They coordinated rooms/car/food. Most of the crew had stayed in the downtown area of St. Croix before, so we decided to stay at the Divi...and we're glad we did. Great beach ! Staying there afforded us the opportunity to explore the beaches and restaurants in that part of the island. Just be aware that it could be up to an hour drive from the resort to the FBO, depending on time of day. Average travel time for us was abour 45 minutes. Have Fun...Be Safe !!! NOTE: Bring your passports. It is common practice to cancel VFR approaching the island and then circumnavigate the isle to get to the field VFR.

Puerto Rico - Support is non-existent with the Navy at Roosevelt Roads NS (go to San Juan instead),. But if you do RON here, several resort hotels near Rosie Roads will suffice: The Westin Rio Mar, (787)888-6000 is a luxurious resort and hotel, with a beautiful beach, a casino, Greg Norman golf course, gym and spa, plus many pools and hot tubs. The rooms are nice, but everything (food, etc.) is vastly expensive. I've been working with the Westin hotel which is giving us a better rate than the $155.00 rate allowed. The hotel is unbelievable and the folks at Starwood Hotels (Westin, W, Sheraton, etc.) have been terrific. If you're going through San Juan, Puerto Rico I would suggest you contact Lauralee Shapiro at 407-934-1032 or at Lshapiro@tishman.com. I use Westin hotels when I'm on corporate business and these guys are great. The Westin offers a very expensive buffet and entrees at their restaurants ($20 - 30 per plate). Not to worry, there is cheap food for the Crew Dog nearby. Right after the turn-off from the highway to the side road leading you to the Westin there is a great Chinese Restaurant that serves good (cheap) food. When leaving the Westin on the day of your flight, go straight through the traffic light at the highway, turn right and about 4 blocks down on the right side is a GREAT Bakery / Deli. It opens at 5:00 AM EVERY DAY. Fantastic Cuban sandwiches go for about $1.50. They also serve rotisserie chicken and other good food. Load up for your flight! El Conquistador, (800)-WYNDHAM is also a fine resort hotel. Although being over the gov rate, it boasts a large casino, great view, golf courses, private island, tennis, multiple pools, and even a disco in the hotel. Rooms are spread out. This place also charges a lot for food/drink - found out the hard way I couldn't afford to drink there. Get booze on base. Bring your sticks and talk to the golf pro. He'll hook you up. If you can, get a van and go into town or San Juan. If you stay at the Westin Rio Mar, and you have a full day off, check out the El Yunque Rain forest. Its only 20 minutes away and offers excellent hiking trails and beautiful sceenery in the only rain forest operated by the US Parks Service. To dine, go to Luquillo, near the Westin. Sandy's is one of many good local restaurants in the town, offering typical, inexpensive Puerto Rican cuisine and friendly service. NOTES: 1.) ATOC has u-drive-it vans allocated for USAF use ONLY - therefore they must allow you use of them as long as no other transient crews have them. 2.) There is a letter down from AMC dictating that USAF crews MUST stay on base (Navy Billeting) if available - that's bullshit, of course; so instead of relying on ATOC to make your reservations, bypass them and do it yourself. Also, cabs/vans can easily be acquired if no u-drive-its are available - the fees are all reimbusable, of course. Navy Lodging Update--Apparently they finished the new rooms at the Navy Lodge on base. AMC has designated these rooms (in addition to the 10 they already had blocked out before) as "appropriate" for AMC crews. SO this opens some 140 rooms for us. They all have to be full before the Navy people can issue a non-avail slip. This really sucks! I don't know how we can get around this. AT the very least pass on to the crews to NOT MAKE ANY RESERVATIONS. Just show up; it increases the chances of going to the Westin or EL Conquistador. You probably heard about the crew that refused the Navy lodge, and the Navy guy took pictures of the room (to show that the rooms were "good enough"), and mailed them to AMC. This in essence started the cracking down, since the AMC general saw the pictures and started this snowball rolling. The only guys that have gotten around this that I have heard of are the guard people, since their units pay for anything. I just returned from a TDY to Borinquen ( the old Ramey AFB) on the North West coast of Puerto Rico. This is a much quieter side of the Island if you are used to the bustle of San Juan. We were put up in a nice Hotel, The Mayaguez Casino and Resort nice view of the ocean and a nice pool, but not on the beach. We were really too far away from San Juan to brave the two plus hour drive in, so we stayed on that side of the Island. Had a great meal at the Oyster Bar in Mayaguez. Also Check out Jobos Beach near the Base great crashing waves and an impressive blowhole, while there eat at Happy Belly's it's right on the beach with outdoor seating and great food at a reasonable price. Overall this was a great TDY. ~Navy Lodging at Roosey Sucks! The beds are slightly wider than cots. The room keys are metal so are easily copied. One room was broken in to and an item stolen. Billeting folks were not surprised. Leave your valuables on the plane, it's safer. Harbor Lights restaurant was overpriced and lame. The new ATOC contractor did a good job. Check max per diem rates before accepting a hotel. ATOC gave us wheels, which are necessary. San Juan, Puerto Rico - A great time waits for you in this beautiful city. The Coronet Oak guys and the PRANG will offer you great support despite the small ramp space. Once you get off the base, the list of hotels is large. Many opt for the ESJ Towers in Isla Verde. Not bad, since it is located next to the the El San Juan and the San Juan Grand Hotels which are awesome (go to their casinos and clubs if you can), and near the Ritz Carlton (another awesome hotel with a large casino). In addition, there are a few bars and restaurants around. Another popular choice is the Embassy Suites. This hotel is nice and very close to the Airport, but its fairly far from the nightlife. If you go to the other touristy area, Condado, consider the Condado Plaza, located at the heart of the tourist section. Across from Tony Roma's, and with the area's largest casino, four restaurants, a private beach, and a club at the lobby, this hotel will have all that you need if you don't want to leave the hotel. If you do opt to go out, Old San Juan is a ten minute drive from the Condado Plaza (compared to 20 minutes from the ESJ Towers). Go to the strip of bars by Cristo Street. Nono's, el Patio de Sam, and Lazer's are only a few of the nice bars in the area. The hang-out place for locals is in Santurce, at the "Plazita," near Stop 18. If you like to meet university-age people and drink, go there. Its all improvised tailgating - no bars. But lots of people. Other nice clubs include Stargate and Havana Club, all near Stop 18. If you have a full day there, do not miss out on touring Old San Juan! The views around EL Morro are spectacular, and you will meet lots of toursts from the cruises that stop there every day.

Norman Manley Int'l, Jamaica -Recommend not staying in the hotel (Morgan Bay?) that is provided by the station manager. Port Royal hotel was decent. Hilton was a very nice hotel. Be prepared for a 2-3 hour ordeal with customs and immigration. We broke here for 3 days and getting the prop and other tools out of customs took all day the second day, which had I not been at the airport all day would have been a good deal. They require a Form C-36 for customs on any parts coming in which they never actually took from us and they finally let us download the MRT airplane anyway. The AMC rep., Ken Harris, was great. He was able to help us out with most problems. Chief Porter from the MLO was a great help as well for all the unexpected problems with customs. The requirements here change on a daily basis so expect the unexpected. Use the embasssy military liaison office to book rooms. They will put you at the Hilton in the middle of downtown which is very nice. The tower rooms are nicer than the garden rooms but not as close to the pool. Reasonable rates for massages and great food which was reasonably priced for the per diem you'll make. The hotel also had prepaid cell phones for rent. No charge for the phone itself and they are international capable. Minimum of 40 international minutes was only 20 USD which was a steal when compared to direct dial from the rooms @ 1.20 USD per minute. If you're broke and using an Iridium, throw the Iridium in the pool and go rent a cell. Much easier. For transportation back to the airport you will have to catch a taxi or bus. We used JUTA tours which is readily available at the hotel. The bell captain can help you out if told in advance or call directly to Mr. Donavan Green @ (1876) 783-4766 or 367-3671. He will also provide group rates to any of the beaches on the north coast. Just remember that all rates are up for negotiation on everything here. If you are looking for entertainment ask the hotel bartenders who can direct you to the happening spots which change each night. Melody L. Brown AMC Station Manager Kingston, Jamaica cell: 876-877-5513 fax: 976-935-6030 maytagaircraftjamaica@yahoo.com Great AMC station manager. Melody was very helpful and proactive. Coordinated trans and rooms (Hilton) for us. Got us an aircart when our APU broke also.

Dominican Republic - WARNING!!!! Do not play a game called progressive roulette in the Dominican Republic. Despite the fact that it is played in hotel casinos the game is rigged and crewdogs lost lots of money. The guys who run it rent space from the casino and the casino and hotel are NOT responsible for their actions. Stick with the blackjack or craps and you should be fine. This game might also exist in other Caribbean islands so beware.